Computational Thinking (CT) has recently been addressed as one of the key skills for the twenty-first century. Integrating CT into different subject areas of K-12 education is also now widely accepted to improve the quality of instruction. In that sense, it is important to enable educators and researchers to recognize how to integrate…

Although many nations are struggling with social studies, especially when addressing basic goals, ideas of citizenship, and developing and understanding global perspectives, it is New Zealand that provides an interesting case regarding social studies for social efficacy and global understanding. In this article, the author investigates the…

Stresses importance of making the social studies curriculum challenging for gifted students. Recommends differentiating between content and process, and discusses a variety of approaches and techniques relevant to a variety of classroom situations. Emphasis is placed on developing higher-level thinking skills in the gifted classroom. (BR)

Reviews research on questioning in social studies. Shows the effects of different types of questions on student involvement, group work, and problem solving. Compares elementary-level results with results obtained in three high school social studies classes. (JDH)

Discusses teaching social studies using public issues to develop student understanding. Describes identification of issues, justification and clarification of positions, and the discussion process. Suggests that selection of issues should be based on the importance of the issues to society and their significance for teachers and students. (DK)

The author examines the overuse of the structure of discipline in social studies curriculum. The utilization of a problem-solving methodology which deals with value-conflict issues is recommended as a substitute. The problem-solving process would cut across and utilize every subject area. (DE)

Suggestions are presented to help social studies classroom teachers identify and select teaching techniques. Concludes that inquiry techniques are most successful in helping teachers motivate students and awaken their curiosity. These techniques also provide illustrative examples; clarify themes; sustain interest, and encourage synthesis,…

Reviews the constraints on implementing an issue-centered approach to social studies education and argues that schools play an important role in socializing students into society. Concludes that advocates of new theories of social studies education must take into account the realities of contemporary school and society. (SLM)

Outlines a method for modifying the current social studies curriculum so it can be taught from an issue-centered approach. States that conventional courses in history and geography would be organized around the study of a select number of important issues and illustrates the way these classes would be taught using this approach. (SLM)

Outlines two reasons that issue-centered discourse will be legitimized in the schools. Contends that the impact of societal problems will force schools to deal with social issues, and that the recognition of the hidden curriculum's influence will impel schools to capitalize on the learning taking place within their walls. (SLM)

Reviews the history of social studies as an integrated, issue-centered field of study from its inception within the progressive movement to the present. Summarizes major curricular development projects within the issues-centered orientation and speculates on the decline of the problems approach in social studies education. (SLM)

Reviews the history and development of the "Our Working World" elementary textbook series, an example of the New Social Studies reform movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Describes the Organic Curriculum, which integrated the fundamental ideas of five social science disciplines. Maintains that implementing the K-6 program all at once was an…